News

Profits and sales were down at Novartis in the fourth quarter due to restructuring and currency impacts but the Swiss major says it is now set up to grow strongly for the coming years.

Despite protestations from its chief executive Ian Read, many observers believe Pfizer will hit the merger highway hard after posting falls in sales and earnings for the fourth quarter.

Despite the financial crisis, healthcare in Europe continues to improve, but the UK still languishes around mid-table, hit by issues such as poor access to cancer drugs, according to a new 36-nation review.

AstraZeneca has launched in the UK a new pre-filled pen containing its once-weekly diabetes drug Bydureon (exenatide), offering patients a simpler route of administration.

Internet giant Google is continuing its foray into healthcare research by signing a deal looking at the progression of multiple sclerosis with Biogen Idec, according to Bloomberg.

NHS leaders have promised that £10 million will be invested into expanding the general practice workforce in England.

Actavis is shelling out £306 million to snap up generic drugmaker Auden Mckenzie, hot on the heels of its whopping $66-billion-deal to buy Allergan.

A new report from PwC claims that over 40% of pharmaceutical and life sciences senior executives support the idea of the US Food and Drug Administration evaluating drugs based on both clinical and economic effectiveness.

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a stamp of approval for Rockwell Medical’s iron replacement therapy Triferic. 

Drug giant Pfizer says it will cut the price of its pneumococcal vaccine by 6% to help improve access in the world’s poorest countries, but pressure group Médecins Sans Frontières argues the move doesn’t go far enough.

Novo Nordisk has appointed Hanover Communications to help support its public affairs and policy work in the UK during 2015.

Patients in countries whose healthcare systems’ reimbursement decisions consider how much a cancer treatment costs per quality-adjusted life year achieved (CPQ) have less access to new cancer drugs than those in countries which do not use CPQ, according to a new study.

AstraZeneca will finally face generic competition for Nexium now Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has received the green light in the USA for its version of the blockbuster antiulcerant.

The US Food and Drug Administration will undertake a speedy assessment of Sanofi and Regeneron’s promising cholesterol drug Praluent, with a verdict expected by July 24.

Shire’s good run is continuing with the news that the US Food and Drug Administration has granted fast-track designation for SHP609 (idursulfase-IT) for the treatment of neurocognitive decline associated with Hunter syndrome.